Retaining good relations with an AI

**artaxerxes** · 04-21-2008, 20:14

I was wondering if anybody in here has any tips regarding how to prevent an AI from starting a war against you. I usually (as AS) try to keep Bactria from attacking me (and thus instead having them attacking Pahlava) by giving small donations of 100 mnai now and then, but actually Im not even sure if it helps (the reason is that I dont want a full-scale land war in Asia nor even a full-scale Asian empire anyway, so I'd rather my eastern border was just left alone). what actions succeeds in winning the goodwill of the AI and which will it just ignore as it prepares for war?
this goes for both neutral and allied-but-soon-to-betray AIs :)

**Philippus Flavius Homovallumus** · 04-21-2008, 20:30

You basically need a "hard border" rivers, forts watchtowers and patrolling armies. It's 190 BC in my Campaign and I've had total piece with the Getai in Makedonia.

**Midnj** · 04-21-2008, 20:38

Aside from using the force diplomacy mod to force peace every time they siege you... the previous poster is right.

**Dhampir** · 04-21-2008, 21:41

Enter alliances with your neighbors. I find that they are less likely to invade you that way.

However, you then have to watch for "wandering" armies of your allies.

Once I was playing as Rome and an allied Carthaginian army "wandered" up Italy and sacked Capua when I had moved its garrison out to deal with some pesky rebels.

**konny** · 04-22-2008, 00:59

Originally Posted by Dhampir

Enter alliances with your neighbors. I find that they are less likely to invade you that way.

I find it more the opposite. For example, playing the Romans I took Massalia very early and so have a border with the Arverni who are not my allies. Nothing has happened there so far. But my allies the Sweboz dropped a full stack on Mediolanum the very year after we shared border along the Alpes.

**Dhampir** · 04-22-2008, 01:13

Originally Posted by konny

I find it more the opposite. For example, playing the Romans I took Massalia very early and so have a border with the Arverni who are not my allies. Nothing has happened there so far. But my allies the Sweboz dropped a full stack on Mediolanum the very year after we shared border along the Alpes.

I would be tempted to employ my strategic nuclear arsenal.

**Ancyrean** · 04-22-2008, 05:27

Originally Posted by Dhampir

Enter alliances with your neighbors. I find that they are less likely to invade you that way.

However, you then have to watch for "wandering" armies of your allies.

Once I was playing as Rome and an allied Carthaginian army "wandered" up Italy and sacked Capua when I had moved its garrison out to deal with some pesky rebels.

On this side note, Cartaginian stragglers that go on for excursions of their own in peace time accross the length of Italia annoy me greatly as well. An effective way to prevent that from happening is to place a single unit at the tip of the Italian peninsula, on the east bank of the continental bridge where Italy and Sicilly meet. One such placed unit effectviely blocks the passage of all other units towards the mainland and the only way to move past it is for them to attack it, in which case you'll have some time to recruit some defences in your hinterland to meet the threat.

**Dooz** · 04-22-2008, 07:01

I think a tribute definitely helps in relations. The core diplomacy engine when it comes to that is presumably similar if not the same as M2TW, and there you can see the relations clearly. When you have even a small tribute going constantly, your relations rise or are maintained, putting off war for just that much longer.

Of course, the strong military doesn't hurt either, although perhaps more expensive in the long run, if their sole purpose is to be camped at borders and dissuade attackers... but if you got money to spare, then you got nothing to lose.

Oh yeah, and Medium campaign difficulty won't hurt either.

These three things oughta keep you at peace for a lot longer than you're used to.

**Puupertti Ruma** · 04-22-2008, 00:37

Also I think I had an effect with giving AI a small tribute every turn. In my makedonia campaign in 0.81 I gave Seleucids 100 gold as a regular tribute for maybe about 100 turns and had land border with them for a good while until they attacked. Everytime the tribute would end I extended it for another 30 turns or so, until one day I forgot about it and of course they attacked.

Well I can't be exactly 100% sure if the tribute made any difference but it's worth a shot. Just remember to keep the money rolling all the time, occasional gifts probably won't do it. It's plausible that the AI doesn't want to attack you as it sees that it will lose income by doing that.

Of course, as Wigfert said a really good defence is often the best defence :)

**QuintusSertorius** · 04-22-2008, 00:57

A bit of money here and there doesn't really cut it. Regular tributes, even if they're trivial amounts work better. As in 50 mnai a turn for 15 turns, and keep renewing it. Otherwise make it costly to attack you, ensure your bordering provinces have strong garrisons.

I've had Massilia for about 20 years bordering on both Aedui and Arverni, and neither have attacked me. I don't even give them money, but there's nearly a full stack sitting in the city, which seems to deter them.